Internet Explorer 8 beta by summer

Next version of Microsoft's browser to be made available for beta testing by end of June

Microsoft has announced it will release a beta version of Internet Explorer 8 to the public by the end of June.

"A beta version of Internet Explorer 8 will be released in the first half of 2008," disclosed a Microsoft developer in an official Microsoft blog.

The firm is currently inviting a limited number of ‘qualified beta testers' to download the new browser, which Microsoft claims is its most W3C standards-compliant browser to date.

Microsoft has yet to reveal details about the new browser's features and technical improvements. However, the online community won't have to wait long as the first official IE 8 viewing is scheduled for the firm's MIX conference, set to take place next week in Las Vegas.

The Redmond-based firm's announcement comes just a few days after Mozilla's Firefox browser crossed the 500 million download mark. Firefox 3, which will compete directly with IE 8, is already in its third iteration.